Where to Start as a Location Independent Therapist:
Introducing the LIT Journey Framework
Building a location-independent practice involves figuring out many moving pieces: defining your offer, marketing your services, navigating legal and ethical considerations, and even taking your practice on the road or working internationally.
But before jumping into the logistics, we highly recommend starting with your business mindset & vision. Many colleagues initially focus on the details of marketing, only to realise later that what they truly needed was clarity on their vision, confidence in their pricing, and a sustainable approach to building their business. A strong foundation in mindset will make every other step smoother and more effective.
This is why we created the LIT Journey for the members inside our paid LIT Community!
Watch this video to learn more about the LIT Journey or keep reading below.
The 6 Stages of the LIT Journey Framework
1. Business Mindset: Your Foundation for Success
2. The Core of Your Business: Defining Your Offer, Ideal Client & Niche
3. Systems & Processes: Running Your Business Smoothly
4. Marketing: Attracting the Right Clients
5. Working Internationally: Navigating Legal & Practical Challenges
6. Diversifying & Scaling Your Business: Beyond 1:1 Client Work
Inside the LIT Community, we guide our members through every step of creating a sustainable, location-independent practice.
Below is a short intro to the key areas we cover—along with some free resources for mental health professionals to get you started!
1. Business Mindset – Your Foundation for Success
Before anything else, it’s essential to shift from “therapist” to business owner. Many professionals struggle with imposter syndrome, pricing their services, or feeling confident about running a business. This stage is all about laying the groundwork—defining your vision, setting sustainable financial goals, and developing a mindset that supports long-term success. Check out these three blog posts to know more:
Your 5-Year Vision: Why It’s Essential for Therapists with Online Practices
As a mental health professional running your own business, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day hustle of managing clients, schedules, admin, and all the little things that come with private practice. But have you thought about where you’re heading in the...
How (& Why) to Develop a Business Mindset as a Therapist
Have you ever thought about whether you need to develop a business mindset as a location independent therapist? Even more importantly, do you think of yourself as a mental health professional or as a business owner? The reality is that as a location independent...
How Imposter Syndrome Shows Up for Therapists (& What To Do When It Does!)
Imposter syndrome is a common issue for therapists running their own practices - but it’s no less challenging because of that. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome and wondering if you’re good enough, this blog post is for you! Why is imposter...
2. The Core of Your Business – Defining Your Offer, Ideal Client & Niche
Clarity is everything. Who do you serve, and what exactly do you offer? Many therapists try to market their services without a clear niche, making it difficult to attract the right clients. This stage helps you define your unique offer, identify your ideal clients, and position yourself effectively in the global mental health space. Check out these three blog posts and download our Ideal Client Worksheet to know more:
How to Identify Your Ideal Client as a Location Independent Therapist
Have you been struggling to identify your ideal client for your online practice? Maybe, you thought you could keep it vague and work with everyone. After all, you could always narrow it down later on. Unfortunately, this strategy is unlikely to work for most location...
Starting a Paid Online Community as a Therapist: Yes or No?
Have you ever considered starting a paid online community as a therapist? A paid online community is an opportunity to connect with more people, spread your message further, and earn more money - without burning out and working too many hours. In this blog post, we'll...
Adding Coaching to Your Therapy Practice – What You Need to Know
Many mental health professionals are transitioning to coaching or adding coaching to their therapy practice. And there are a lot of good reasons to do so which you'll find listed below. This has been such a popular topic in our community that we recently hosted a...
3. Systems & Processes – Running Your Business Smoothly
A thriving LIT business isn’t just about seeing clients—it’s about having repeatable systems in place. From onboarding and scheduling to payments and automation, strong systems allow you to work efficiently and create a seamless client experience while freeing up your time.
How to Choose the Best Project Management Tool to Streamline Your Business
Have you ever felt stressed or overwhelmed at keeping track of all the moving parts of your business? There’s a lot to stay on top of when you're a business owner, and that’s why it’s crucial to use a project management tool. In this blog post, we’ll cover why a...
From First Contact to First Session: Your Client’s Journey and the Systems You Need (Part 1)
You’ve set up your online therapy business, and you’re ready to take on clients. Congratulations! But have you thought through the client journey from their first contact with you to the first paid session? Is your system set up for a smooth and efficient onboarding...
10 Helpful Tools for Location Independent Therapists
Having a portable business comes with its own set of challenges so it’s important to have the right tools to help things run as smoothly as possible. Here are 10 tools that we’ve found to be helpful in our own experience as location independent therapists working with clients across borders and time zones.
4. Marketing – Attracting the Right Clients
Marketing can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this section, we cover choosing the best marketing channels, crafting your message, and creating content that resonates with your ideal clients. The goal? A steady stream of inquiries from people who truly need your services.
How to Create a Marketing Strategy For Your Business
A strong marketing strategy is one of the most important things you can have for your online business. But as a mental health professional, it’s unlikely that you’re also a marketing expert. And that’s why we invited Melissa Packham into the LIT Community to walk us...
How To Choose the Best Marketing Channels For Your Therapy Business
One question that most mental health professionals have at one point or another is: “Where should I be marketing my online practice/business?” Or, "what are the best marketing channels for online therapists and mental health professionals?" It’s a crucial...
90-Day SEO Plan For Mental Health Professionals
Have you heard that you should be using SEO to show up online and help more people find your website? Or maybe you’ve been curious about SEO but not known where to start? Then you’re not alone - SEO can seem like a lot of work and confusingly technical, with a lot of...
5. Working Internationally – Navigating Legal & Practical Challenges
If you work across borders—either by traveling while you work or seeing clients in different countries—you need to consider legal, ethical, and logistical factors. This section provides practical insights, expert tips, and resources to help you handle these challenges smoothly and confidently.
How to Maintain Client Privacy As a Location Independent Therapist
Are you a mental health professional who works online, often from different locations and want to learn how to maintain client privacy as you move around? Client privacy can be more challenging when you don't have a dedicated office space at home. And it gets even...
6 Digital Nomad Tips for (Aspiring) Location Independent Therapists
Have you been wondering about taking your online practice on the road and becoming a digital nomad? The LIT Community’s co-founder, Sonia Jaeger, has been a digital nomad for 9+ years, and here are some of the best digital nomad tips she has for mental health...
How to Navigate Laws and Regulations as a Location Independent Therapist
Have you been feeling unsure about complying with the laws and regulations as a location independent therapist? Some of these questions may have crossed your mind or are holding you back: Can I work with a client in this specific country? Can I keep working with...
6. Diversifying & Scaling Your Business – Beyond 1:1 Client Work
Once your practice is stable, you may want to explore additional income streams to increase your flexibility and income. From group programs and courses to passive income strategies, this stage helps you think beyond 1:1 work and create a scalable, sustainable business model.
Is Starting a Group Practice Right For You?
Have you ever considered starting a group practice? It’s an option that appeals to many therapists as it allows you to grow your business, support more clients, and collaborate with octher colleagues. But figuring out if, when, and how to start a location independent...
How to Work with a Business Partner (Successfully!)
Have you ever considered working with a business partner, or wondered how to work with a business partner successfully? As a solopreneur, you have complete control over your business - but you have all the responsibility and workload, too. So, teaming up with someone...
Outsourcing as an Online Therapist: Hiring a Virtual Assistant vs. an Online Business Manager
If you're curious about (or intimidated by) the idea of outsourcing as an online therapist, this guide is for you! Have you ever considered outsourcing some of your work? Hiring a third party to work for you can increase efficiency and help you grow your business....
Want More? Join the LIT Community!
These free resources are just a small preview of everything our members get access to once they join. Inside the LIT Community, you’ll find step-by-step guidance, expert-led workshops, frequent community events, and hands-on support to help you build a location-independent practice that truly works for you.
If you’ve ever wished you had:
- A trusted space to ask questions and share challenges without judgment
- Colleagues who understand the realities of working across borders and cultures
- Live, interactive events to support both the clinical and business sides of your work
- Clear next steps for starting or growing your online practice
- Encouragement and accountability to help you stay motivated and on track
…then you’ll feel right at home here.
Our members include therapists from all over the world, working in different countries, languages and cultural contexts, and at every stage of their online practice. Whether you’re just starting out or growing an established practice, you’ll find the support, clarity, and community you need to build a business (and lifestyle) that works for you.
